Boot or shoe



,(No Model.)

l E. L. SPRAGUE.

- BOOT o'sHoE. No. 259,231.

Patented June 6, 1882-. f

- UNITED STATE-s PlrreNTY OFFICE..

EDWIN L. SPRAGUE, OFgVBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Y BOOT OR SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,231, dated .Tune 6, 1882.

Application tiled January 14, 18H2. (No model.) l

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN L. SPRAGUE, of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Boots'and Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specication.

This invention has for its object the production of a boot or shoe more especially adapted for the use of workmen in furnaces and foundries, miners, and others, where a stiff, strong boot or shoe is desired', and wherein the leather ofthe upper which fits the foot shall be guarded or shielded with metal.

My inventionl consists in a metallic or other stiff casing, such as hereinafter described, adapted to cover and protect a part of or the Whole of the upper, leaving au open space between the casing and upper for the upper to move or bend with or to fit the foot Without at the same time bending the casing or causing it to press the upper and prevent the lattcr from conforming itself to the foot.

Figure l represents in side elevation a sufficient portion ot' a shoe to illustrate one em-v bodiment of my invention; Fig. 2, a cross-section thereof, and Fig. 3 a modication.

The upper portion, c, of the shoe is composed of leather. The outer sole, b, and inner sole, j', may be of any usual material and shape, as may be the i'astenings e, which unite them together, the latter being herein shown as tacks. Outside vthe upper of this shoe I have placed a metal casin g, c, the edges of which are flanged or turned to lie parallel with the sole b, so as to be united to it by the fastenings e., The metal shield, which covers nearly all the upper, is larger than the upper, so as to leave a space, d, between the shield and upper to prevent such contact of the stift' metal with the leather of the upper next the foot as would injure the, foot.

i shoe or boot, as in Fig. l.

In foundries and workshops where metal is worked, molten and hot iron frequently falls upon the shoe or boot, and if of leather the upper is spoiled, and frequently the l'oot is injured; but with such a boot or shoe incased in metal, as herein shown, such difficulties are eifectually avoided. This casing on boots or shoes worn by miners protects the upper from mar, and makes the boot or shoe much more durable.

I am aware that the toes of boots and shoes have been provided with metal tips to prevent the toe of the upper from being worn through;

but such shoe-tips fit the upper closely and cover only a small part 0T the toe, Whereasin this my invention the metal casing is extended up and back over the ball of the foot, and preferably up over the instep, the metal shield being, however, larger than the upper to leave a space, d.

The metal c2 covering the quarter may extend higher up than in Fig. l, it' desired.

As so far described l have referred to the outer easing as composed only of metal; but it will vhe obviousA that any other practically rigid and stiE materialsuch as stiff leatherboard-if applied over the regular upper of the boot or shoe, as described ofthe casing c, will protect the principal part of or all of the upper or the front and quarter.

When the protecting-casing, composed of a material more rigid and serviceable than the material of the vamp or front of the shoe, is

shaped to lit the shoe, as in Fig, the casing,

if injured, or if desired, may be removcd, and another one applied by attaching it to lhesole; or, if desired, the casing may be-otherwise applied to the shoe and retained in position thereon. i

My ini-proved casing, adapted to be secured to a shoe, may be made separately and be applied by users ot' the shoes.

I do not claim a foxing or cover applied to a boot or shoe and iitted closely to the vamp thereof, as I am aware that a foxing of that class is not new; but I am not aware that a rigid cover has ever been applied to protect the upper in such manner as to leave a free open space between the upper and cover, so that the vupper may adapt itself to the foot without al- As an improved article of manufacture. the to this specification in the presence of two subheren-deseribed stiff or rigid casing, ada'pted seribing witnesses.

to be placed over the upper to protect; a part; 1 y or the Whole of the upper, and leave an open LD IN L' SPRAGUE' 5 space between the easing and upper, substan- Witnesses:

tially as set forth. G. W. GREGORY,

In testimony WllcreofI have signed my name B. J. NOYES. 

